Identification of beverage ingredient containing capsules

ABSTRACT

A beverage ingredient capsule ( 1 ) provided with an identification member ( 6 ) designed for being physically contacted from outside in order to control operation parameters of an associated beverage production machine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/524,481, filed Dec. 22, 2009, which is a U.S. national stage filingof International Appl. No. PCT/EP2008/50634, filed Jan. 21, 2008, whichclaims priority to EP 07101087.0, filed on Jan. 24, 2007, the entirecontents of which are expressly incorporated herein by referencethereto.

BACKGROUND

The invention generally relates to the field of producing a liquidcomestible or beverage from ingredients contained in a capsule.

In the recent past beverage ingredient containing capsules have foundwidespread application for producing different types of beverages, suchas for example tea or coffee, and other liquid comestibles. Thesecapsules are designed for a use in connection with a dedicated beverageproduction machine which is provided with means for feeding a liquidinto the interior of the capsule such that the liquid interacts with theingredients contained in the capsule, the result of the interactionbeing a produced beverage or other liquid comestibles.

Some of the known machines are provided with sophisticated controlsystems setting all kind of operation parameters for the beverageproduction process. These parameters can include (non-exhaustive list)e.g., the temperature and the volume of the liquid supplied to theinterior of the capsule as well as the time duration of the interactionof the liquid with the ingredients contained to the capsule.

It is also known that the beverage production machine is provided with auser interface such that the user can set operational parametersaccording to his/her preferences.

Once these parameters have been manually set, the beverage productionmachine will use the defined set of parameters for every followingbeverage production process.

In the state of the art, capsules can be found with identificationelements in the form of several mechanical contacts which areselectively sensed by sensing means of the machine. Typically, thecontacts are made visible and in relief at the surface of the capsuleand are directly sensed by fixed sensing means of the machine. Suchsystem has several disadvantages. External mechanical contacts areexposed and they can be damaged or altered either accidentally or onpurpose. The modification of the contacts can create a severe disorderof the system and/or set incorrect beverage parameters.

For instance, EP 0 638 486 relates to a cartridge for the preparation ofa beverage comprising a plurality of teeth moulded along one side edgeof the cartridge. The teeth have recesses formed there between. Theteeth are intended to enable the cartridge to be driven through abeverage preparation machine by the engagement of a cam. At the oppositeside of the edge of the cartridge, are formed a plurality of pegs suchthat as the package is driven into the machine by the engagement ofteeth with the cam, the presence or absence of the upstanding pegs issensed by a sensing arm which thereby will identify a different type ofcartridge. The sensing arm operates a switch which thereby transmitsinformation concerning the presence or absence of the pegs on thepackage to the control mechanism for the beverage dispensing machine.The arrangement of pegs on the cartridge thus identifies the type ofcartridge to a controller which then selects the appropriate beveragepreparation conditions.

In the state of the art also capsules can be found which are provided attheir outer face with a bar code such that the beverage productionmachine can read the information represented by the bar code and canthus identify the associated capsule. The provision of a bar code hasseveral disadvantages: to start with, as the bar code has to be visibleat the outer face of the capsule, this automatically has a negativeimpact on the aesthetic appearance of the capsule. On the other hand,there is always the risk that in the environment of the beverageproduction process the legibility of the bar code will be endangerede.g., by water/vapour deposited on the bar code or optical elements ofthe reader.

For instance, U.S. 2002/0048621 relates to an encoded coffee packet anda beverage producing device comprising a sensor configured to detectencoded data stored on the beverage packet and a processor configured tointerpret the encoded data and to direct production of a beverageaccording to the encoded data. The encoded data can be a visual codesuch as a barcode, a geometrical shape, a text string, glyph, a digitalwatermark, notches, grooves or holes.

EP 1 629 752 A2 discloses a beverage production system with a memorythat stores information about the order of the beverage cartridgesdispensed by the beverage preparation machine.

SUMMARY

Therefore it is the object of the present invention to propose aninexpensive and reliable solution for the identification of beverageingredient containing capsules.

In particular, one object of the invention is to reduce the risk ofmisuse or damages of the identification system. Another object is toprovide a solution which works well in humid and hot conditions. Anotherobject is to have a solution that can be implemented on a capsule bysimple manufacturing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more compact solutionable to carry out detection operations in a volume limited environmentof the machine.

It is an aspect of the present invention that the visible identificationof the prior art is replaced by a “hidden” or less exposedidentification.

It is also an aspect of the invention that the cumbersome detection ofthe prior art is replaced by a compact detection system on both thecapsule and machine side.

According to an aspect of the invention, the identification member ofthe capsule is covered by a deformable, displaceable and/or puncturablecover in order to protect it and reduces the risk of misuse ordeterioration of the identification system.

To this regard according to the present invention a capsule is proposedwhich contains a beverage ingredient. A capsule is provided with anidentification member designed for being physically contacted fromoutside.

The identification member is designed for representing information uponmechanical contact from outside.

Thus the identification members code the information in a structuralmanner (in contrast to the visual bar code representation of the priorart). More precisely, the identification member can comprise a pluralityof predetermined localized contact surface receivers, each of themconstituting a choice amongst two different surface levels thatcorrespond upon a contact being established or not, with an externalprobe member, a binary code state (0 or 1).

A surface level can correspond, for example, to a different in depth orheight of a plurality of localized recesses/holes or protruding members.

In an embodiment, first and second contact receivers are provided. Firstcontact receivers can be holes or recesses of a same depth whereassecond contact receivers are holes or recesses of shorter depth or,alternatively, are filled or slightly in relief. In a possible variant,first contact receivers are protruding elements of same height whereassecond contact receivers are protruding elements of greater height.

Preferably the identification member is not visible from outside and isnot exposed to the exterior before being physically contacted byassociated probe means of a beverage production machine.

To this regard the identification member can be covered to the outsideby cover means, wherein the cover means and/or the identification memberare designed to be transferable from a cover state to an identificationreading state, e.g., by being penetrated, deformed, displaced etc. byprobe means from an associated beverage production machine.

Preferably the identification member is coded by modulating a surfacestructure of a face of the capsule, e.g., by providing holes or recessesin an identification face of the capsule.

The identification face of the capsule can be covered by a displaceable,deformable or puncturable membrane such as a plastic layer, an aluminiumlayer or a laminate of plastic-aluminium. The cover thus is designed tobe selectively perforated from outside or deformed at portionsoverlapping the recessions or holes. On the other hand, the cover canresist at least a certain penetration or deformation by being supportedat regions which are not overlapping recessions or holes.

Alternatively also the cover member can remain unchanged, but theidentification member will be manipulated (e.g., displaced) in order totransfer the capsule from the identification-cover state to theidentification-reading state.

In a preferred embodiment, the identification member can be formed inthe front of a lid of the capsule which is associated to a cup-shapedbody of the capsule to demarcate a cavity containing beverage formingingredients.

The identification member can be formed as an integral part of the lid.For instance, the lid can be made of a moulded plastic onto which theidentification means are moulded.

For limiting the space required for the detection system, the pluralityof predetermined localized contact receivers is arranged on the front ofthe lid in a non-linear pattern. For instance, the receivers can begrouped in a substantially polygonal, star-shaped or curved pattern or anon-regular substantially closed pattern covering the surface of thelid.

The invention also relates to a beverage production system comprising abeverage production machine designed for producing a beverage fromingredients containing the capsule, as well as a capsule as definedabove.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a beverageproduction machine designed for use with a beverage ingredientcontaining capsule. The beverage production machine is equipped withmeans for physically contacting a capsule in order to read informationthereof. Further on, the beverage production machine is provided withcontrol means which are functionally connected with the means and aredesigned to control operation parameters of the beverage productionmachine in response to the read information. The contact meanspreferably comprise at least one displaceable probe which mechanicallycontacts the capsule, wherein the control means are initially arrangedwith the at least one probe to detect an identification information inrelation to the degree of displacement of the probe in response of itscontact with the capsule.

More particularly, the at least one displaceable probe is resiliablypositioned at a distance of a circuitry of the control means and isselectively moved into contact with said circuitry depending on itscontact with the capsule wherein the contact of the probe and circuitryconstitutes a predetermined binary coded state (0 or 1) and thenon-contact of the probe and circuitry constitutes the other binarycoded state.

In order to significantly reduce the size of the identification system,the identification member can be associated to a printed circuitry. Theprinted circuitry can be of a width of a few millimeters only andinserted in a small space of the machine adjacent the housing of thecapsule. For instance, thickness of the printed circuitry is of 0.5 to 3MM.

The printed circuitry comprises for instance, a plurality of printedcircuits which are selectively closed or opened by a plurality of theprobes to provide the coded state.

The at least one probe is preferably coupled or is at least part of aresilient support member and is associated to the circuitry for bothproviding the elasticity to the probe to enable its return into anon-contact position and the insulation of the circuitry from thehumidity coming from the capsule.

The resilient support member can be, for instance, an elastomeric,preferably silicone member.

The probes can further be formed of pins which have a base embedded orinserted in a seat of the support member.

The control means can be designed to control, in response to the readinformation, a beverage production temperature such as for example thetemperature of a liquid supplied to the interior of the capsule.

The beverage production machine can be designed to produce tea, coffeeand/or other beverages.

The contacting means can comprise a plurality of movable pins forming apredetermined pattern which mechanically selectively contact thepredetermined localized surface receivers of the capsule.

The control means can be designed to detect the identificationinformation via the degree of displacement of the pin against thecapsule.

The displacement of the pin can be made such that it selectively opensan associated contact of a circuitry of the control means.

The at least one pin is preferably electrically isolated from controlmeans circuitry.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method forcontrolling the operation of a beverage production machine designed forproducing a beverage from a beverage-ingredient containing capsule.

The method comprises the step of physically contacting the capsule byprobe means of a beverage production machine in order to readidentification information from a dedicated identification member of thecapsule. In a further step, operation parameters of the beverageproduction machine are set in response to the read identificationinformation.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

Further advantages, features and objects of the present invention shallnow be explained with reference to the figures of the enclosed drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a system according to the presentinvention designed for reading identification information from abeverage ingredient containing capsule.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a capsule according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the interaction part between probe meansof the beverage production machine and identification member of thecapsule.

FIG. 4 shows elements of the interaction between the probe means and thecapsule, i.e., the view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a printed circuit board which can be associated with theprobe means.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic overview of a system according to the presentinvention designed for reading identification information from abeverage ingredient containing capsule.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the interaction part between probe meansof the beverage production machine and identification member of thecapsule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally it is an aspect of the present invention that a beverageproduction machine 11 is designed to produce a beverage from a capsule 1positioned at a dedicated beverage production position of the beverageproduction machine 11. As shown in FIG. 1 the capsule has a dedicatedcompartment for containing beverage ingredients 5.

A liquid 3, controlled by a control unit 10 of the beverage productionmachine 11, is made to enter the capsule 1 in order to interact with theingredients 5 contained therein. The result of the interaction, i.e., aproduced beverage or liquid comestible, can then be obtained (reference4) from the beverage production machine 11.

Typical examples for the nature of the interaction between the liquid 3and the ingredients 5 are brewing, mixing, extracting, dissolving etc.Different types of ingredients can be present in the beveragecompartment and different types of interactions can take place in thecapsule.

The system as shown in FIG. 1 is provided with means for retrieving(“reading”) identification data from the capsule 1 in order to transferthe read identification data to the control unit 10, such that thecontrol unit 10 can control the operation of a following productioncycle of the beverage production machine 11 depending on the content ofthe read identification data.

The identification data can refer to parameters of the capsule and/orthe ingredients.

According to one aspect of the invention the identification informationcan be read from the capsule 1 in a non-optical manner, as the opticalreading e.g., using a bar code has the disadvantages of having anegative impact on the aesthetic impression of the outer appearance ofthe capsule and of being prone to failure due to the legibility of thebar code in the environment of the beverage production process.

The capsule 1 according to the present invention is provided with anidentification member 6 which carries, in a coded manner, identificationinformation. Preferably the information is coded in a digital manner.

Preferably the information is coded by a modulation of the surfacestructure of a face of the capsule 1. E.g., a hole or a recession canrepresent one logical sate (e.g., “0”), while another surface state (“norecession” or “no hole”) can represent the other logical state (e.g.,“1”).

Replacing the bar code by a surface modulation which can then bedetected in a non-optical manner (or even in an optical manner) enhancesthe reliability of the information reading from the capsule.

Preferably the identification member 6 is arranged at the capsule 1 suchthat it is not exposed to and usually not visible from outside. To thisregard a cover 7 can be provided for the identification member 6. Thecover 7 serves for aesthetic and/or protective purposes with regard tothe identification member 6.

(As a side remark, such cover 7 is also useful in combination with a barcode and a visual reading of information.)

The cover 7 and the identification member 6 are part of the capsule andarranged such that at the beginning the identification member is in aprotected state. Probe means of the beverage production machine can thenmanipulate the system cover means/identification member such that thesystem cover means/identification member is transferred from a coveredstate to an identification reading state in which the probe means canread visually or through mechanical contact the information encoded inthe identification member. The manipulation can take place with regardto the identification member and/or the cover means.

Preferably the cover 7 is only carrying out the complete coveringfunction as long as no detection process has been carried out. Alongwith the detection process, as will be explained later on, the cover 7can be e.g., at least partially removed, displaced, deformed orperforated.

Alternatively the cover 7, during the information reading process, isdeflected in order to follow the surface contours of the identificationmember arranged below the cover. To this regard a flexible cover 7 canbe foreseen which can be deflected from outside in order to read thesurface structure of the identification member 6 arranged below thecover 7.

The beverage production machine 11 is provided with probe means 8 whichare designed to read the information coded by modulating the surfacestructure of the identification member 6.

Preferably such detection is carried out by means of a physicalmechanical contact or an electric contact, although as surfacemodulation can also be read optically.

To this regard the probe means 8 can preferably present a plurality ofdisplaceable pins 17, which during the information reading process arebiased against the identification member 6 of the capsule 1.

Depending on the specific shape of the surface structure of theidentification member 6 at the contact area between a pin 17 in theidentification member 6, a pin 17 will thus be allowed to protrude moreor less towards the capsule 1.

In case the information is coded in digital manner by the surfacestructure of the identification member 6, correspondingly also therewill be a digital encoding of the displacement positions of the pins 17,i.e., there will only be a more protruding and a less protrudingposition for the pins 17.

This relative displacement of the pins 17 is converted into electricalsignals by a detection unit 9. The thus generated electrical detectionsignals can then be processed by the control unit 10.

The detection unit 9 thus is designed to convert a mechanically readinformation into electronic signals.

The control unit 10 will then set, as a function of the readidentification data from the capsule, parameters of the beverageproduction process, such as for example (non-exhaustive list) the flowrate and temperature of the supplied liquid 3 as well as the interactiontime etc.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the capsule 1. According to the embodimentshown in FIG. 2 the surface structure of the identification member ismodulated by providing selectively a plurality of holes 12. Having ahole 12 at a predefined position represents one logical state, while nothaving the hole at the same position would represent respectivelyanother digitally coded state.

FIG. 3 illustrates the conversion of the mechanical reading of thedigitally coded information of the identification member of the capsule1 into electric signals.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, a pin 17 is isolated from an electroniccircuitry board 15 by means of a resilient and electrically isolatingmaterial layer 14, such as e.g., silicone. The layer 14 will thusprovide the necessary biasing force in order to slightly press the pin17 towards the capsule and eventually perforate or deform any coverprovided on top of the identification member of the capsule.

The rear end of each pin 17 has an enlarged section 21 which is embeddedin a protruding section 22 of the layer 14. Each pin 17 can be providedwith a flange 23 which flushed with the top surface 24 of the protrudingsection 21 of the layer 14.

In the state shown in FIG. 3 the two depicted pins 17 are respectivelyprotruding into holes 12 of the identification member and haveperforated the cover 7. Thus these two pins 17 are not pushed rearwardsare thus not activating electrical micro-switches 25 designed toselectively produce electrical short circuits of dedicated portions of aprinted circuit board 15. Further details of the PCB 15 will beexplained with reference to FIG. 5.

Each pin 17 can be inserted in a recess of the elastic layer 14 such asby press-fitting or overmoulding. The pins are preferably more rigidthan the support layer 14. The pins can be made of metal or hardplastic. The pins and layer 14 can also be made by co-injection of arubber elastic material of different hardness.

In case due to the surface structure of the identification member thepin 17 is not allowed to further protrude into the surface structure ofthe identification member 3, it will thus be slightly pushed rewards (tothe left inside FIG. 3) thus pushing silicone material to activate(i.e., transfer in the conducting state) a electrically conducting microswitch 25 towards the printed circuit board 15. To this regard the faceof the silicone material facing the printed circuit board 15 can becoated with an electrically conducting layer which can selectivelyproduce a defined short circuit on the printed circuit board 15, thedefined short circuit corresponding to closing a switch.

FIG. 5 shows more details of the printed circuit board 15. The referencenumeral 20 designates those areas which can be selectivelyshort-circuited.

Thus the displacement of the pin 17 can selectively activate (close oropen) a switch on the electronic circuitry 15.

In FIG. 4 the isolation and biasing member 14 preferably made from aresilient material such as for example silicone is further illustrated.

The invention thus allows setting operation parameters individually foreach beverage production cycle upon reading of information from thecapsule from which the beverage or liquid comestible shall be produced.

The beverage production system of the invention, in particular, thedisplaceable probe can utilize also capsules having a visibleidentification member (i.e., without a protective membrane).

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A beverage ingredient capsule,the capsule comprising an identification member so constructed andarranged to be physically contacted from outside the capsule, whereinthe identification member comprises a plurality of predetermined contactreceivers that convey information upon mechanical contact.
 2. Thecapsule of claim 1, wherein first contact receivers are holes of a samedepth and second contact receivers are holes of a shorter depth.
 3. Thecapsule of claim 1, wherein first contact receivers are filled andsecond contact receivers are filled to a different depth.
 4. The capsuleof claim 1, wherein first contact receivers are protruding elements of asame height and second contact receivers are protruding elements of agreater height.
 5. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the identificationmember is formed in a front of a lid of the capsule, which is associatedto a cup-shaped body of the capsule to demarcate a cavity containingbeverage forming ingredients.
 6. The capsule of claim 5, wherein theidentification member is formed as an integral part of the lid.
 7. Thecapsule of claim 5, wherein the lid is integrally made of mouldedplastic.
 8. The capsule of claim 5, wherein the plurality ofpredetermined localized contact receivers is arranged on the front ofthe lid in a non-linear pattern.
 9. The capsule of claim 8, wherein thecontact receivers are grouped in a substantially polygonal, star-shapedor curved pattern or a non-regular substantially closed pattern coveringthe surface of the lid.
 10. A beverage ingredient capsule, the capsulecomprising an identification member so constructed and arranged to bephysically contacted from outside the capsule, wherein theidentification member comprises a plurality of predetermined localizedcontact receivers, each predetermined localized contact receiverconstituting a choice between two different surface levels thatcorrespond, upon a contact being established or not with an externalprobe member, to a predetermined binary coded state (0 or 1).
 11. Thecapsule of claim 10, wherein first contact receivers are holes of a samedepth and second contact receivers are holes of a shorter depth.
 12. Thecapsule of claim 10, wherein first contact receivers are filled andsecond contact receivers are filled to a different depth.
 13. Thecapsule of claim 10, wherein first contact receivers are protrudingelements of a same height and second contact receivers are protrudingelements of a greater height.
 14. The capsule of claim 10, wherein theidentification member is formed in a front of a lid of the capsule,which is associated to a cup-shaped body of the capsule to demarcate acavity containing beverage forming ingredients.
 15. The capsule of claim14, wherein the identification member is formed as an integral part ofthe lid.
 16. The capsule of claim 14, wherein the lid is integrally madeof moulded plastic.
 17. The capsule of claim 14, wherein the pluralityof predetermined localized contact receivers is arranged on the front ofthe lid in a non-linear pattern.
 18. The capsule of claim 17, whereinthe contact receivers are grouped in a substantially polygonal,star-shaped or curved pattern or a non-regular substantially closedpattern covering the surface of the lid.